Tuesday, 27 August 2013

A lot of you seemed to like the other summer into autumn styling post, so I decided to do another one. In this one I have taken another trend that is going to big this autumn: tartan. A lot of tartan pieces that I have seen have been red and quite traditional looking, but instead I chose this blue and black tartan skirt from BooHoo, as I felt it was easier to style and more discrete!As the blue was quite a bright colour, I decided to keep all other elements of the outfit simple, so I found this simple 'chic' top from H&M. This is also good for inbetween seasons as you can layer on top of it too add more warmth, or just wear it alone if the weather is nice.To layer on top I decided on this simple grey cardigan from Topshop, as I thought it would go well with the skirt. I chose some grey shoes from H&M as they tied in really well with the cardigan. Also, they kept the outfit casual and comfy. If you wanted to be a bit more girly, you could just go with some ballet flats in a pale pink or grey.To finish the outfit off, I added a simple heart necklace from Topshop. Depending on the warmth, you could wear this outfit with some cute socks or black tights, which is why it's great for inbetween seasons - it's very versatile!- L x

Monday, 26 August 2013

One of the most difficult times to style can be in between seasons, so above, I created an outfit on polyvore that I would wear between summer and autumn.

In the UK, it starts to get a lot colder, so I have started with this jumper from Topshop. When it gets even colder, instead of just using this peter pan collar, you could layer a whole shirt underneath for the same effect. The collar adds some interest to the look and keeps it from becoming too bland. I chose a jumper in a blush pink, as I think this colour works in all seasons!

I have paired the jumper with some burgundy skinny jeans, also from Topshop. The deep wine shade stops this outfit from being to summery, and also looks really nice next to the pale pink. Jeans are great, as they are not too thick so you won't over-heat, but they cover your legs, therefore offering some warmth.

For shoes, I chose these leopard print trainer shoes from H&M, as leopard print is going to be a huge trend this season, and like the collar, it adds some interest and fun too the outfit.

To finish it off, I found this brown backpack from New Look; it is very simple so it would go with many different outfits - you could even use it for school. As it is a warm brown it goes well with the shoes and helps to tie the whole outfit together!

Tuesday, 20 August 2013

Cleaning your make-up brushes is honestly one of the most boring and laborious tasks that you have to do, but it is definitely worth the time it takes. Lots of people (including me) put it off, as you can often just forget about it. However, it is very important!Think about it - if you don't clean your brushes, effectively every time you use that brush you are not only brushing on old make-up, but you are brushing germs back onto your face, causing spots and blackheads, because you are clogging up your pores.Also, If you use the brush for a dark coloured eye shadow, or for blush and then use it for a light colour of eyeshadow or powder, the previous colour will still be on the brush, and it will ruin your make-up. This is especially annoying when using a black brush as you sometimes can't tell if it's clean or not.- L x

Sunday, 18 August 2013

Unfortunately for us school kids, September is fast approaching. To be prepared for when September comes around, here are the essentials for your school bag!Firstly, get a bag! I buy a new school bag every year because most bags either break or look tired by the end of the year from carrying all my books around! When shopping for a bag, bring an A4 notepad with you so you can test the bags and see if they will fit all your books in it. There are lots of options when buying a school bag - you could buy a messenger bag (Gola bags look nice, I've had one in the colour Apple/White but there are other colours and styles available). A popular style of bag is a backpack, I love the Topshop ones! Or you could go for a classic handbag which you can get from many clothing shops. My favourite at the moment is this H&M bag which looks very sophisticated! I would suggest going into shops and looking at the bags rather than buying online as you will get a better idea of the sizing and feel if you go into shops. A pencil case is a must-have to keep all school equipment in! These can be bought from stationery shops like WHSmith and Paperchase. My current favourite is this flower pencil case from Paperchase. If you have real exams this school year, just opt for a clear pencil case as you're not allowed opaque pencil cases as you might be hiding notes/things to cheat in them.Tissues are certainly an essential for your bag! They are great to have on hand if you've got a cold or another situation that may require them. Blotting tissues are great to have in your bag too, for summer especially, as they remove any sweat/shine from your face without taking any of your makeup off. Another similar item that might be a good idea to keep in your bag is wet wipes/face wipes. Face wipes are useful for after PE when you're feeling sweaty and want to cleanse your face. Wet wipes or hand sanitizer is great if you want to wash your hands and it's hard to get to the school toilets.If you wear makeup, you may want to bring these essentials. Concealer is always a good idea to keep in your bag so you can touch up your makeup, or if a spot randomly appears! Check out our Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer post, it's definitely my favourite concealer yet! Another good makeup product to have on hand is a lip balm/lip product. I recommend Maybelline's Baby Lips Lip Balm as it keeps your lips from getting dry and the one I have (pink punch) gives a beautiful sheer tint of colour on the lips- perfect for school! You may want to take a powder if your face gets shiny throughout the day but if you bring blotting tissues this isn't necessary. Bring a compact mirror so you can apply the makeup if you can't get to toilets easily. This doesn't really fit into makeup, but bringing a hairbrush, hairspray, hair ties and a couple of bobby pins will help if you need to put your hair up for PE or to keep hair looking luscious all day!It's always good to be prepared for period emergencies at school. Bring at least two sanitary towels or tampons or both! If your school and parents will allow you, bring paracetamol in case your stomach cramps are bothering you. Maybe just keep one or two in your bag at once so there is no danger of taking them at the wrong time and overdosing. It's a good idea to invest in a makeup bag of some sort to keep all these items together and so they don't get lost in the bottom of your bag! You'll be able to find one in Boots, Superdrug and probably all makeup shops you come across. You could even use a big pencil case or a pocket in your bag. Keep a book you're reading in your bag if you get bored on the bus, or if you finish a test and the classroom is still in silence! Or if you don't want to bring a book, take a magazine or earphones so you can listen to music!The last and final essential is mints. Some schools don't allow chewing gum, so keep a packet of mints in your bag for when you've just had lunch and want fresh breath.Don't forget to pack your school equipment and exercise books!-A x

Friday, 16 August 2013

For my birthday, I received an extremely generous gift of a few MAC products. I thought I'd review and share them with you all!

The first product I received was the 'Sheertone Shimmer Blush' in the shade 'Springsheen'. It's this gorgeous peachy colour with a little shimmer that looks great in the sun! The blush has a lot of staying power and is buildable - you can build up the colour if you want more of a flush. £18.00 is quite a lot for a blush but it is really good quality, and because I got this as a gift, this factor doesn't really affect me. However, there are many amazing highstreet blushes from brands such as Sleek if £18.00 is a bit too pricey.

Next, I received the 'Mineralize Eye Shadow Duo' in the shade 'This & That'. The lighter half of the duo is a satin-finish ivory colour which is great to use as a highlight on the brow bone and in the inner corners of your eyes. The second half is a champagne colour with shimmer. This is great for the lids or even a highlight colour also. Both are quite versatile and go with almost all makeup looks you want to wear! They're very well pigmented and will stay quite a while (I recommend using a primer though, perhaps Urban Decay's Eye Shadow Primer Potion). Again, a downside is the price (£17.00) as there are a lot of good highstreet products out there too that are much cheaper.

I then managed to get my hands on a 'Lipglass' in the shade 'Cultured'. MAC describes this colour as a 'opalescent mauve-pink' which I think is pretty accurate. This lipglass looks beautiful on the lips and gives a very shiny finish, yet it's not sticky. For £14.00 it's better priced than the other MAC products reviewed. It's great if you just want slightly tinted lips rather than bold, colourful lips.

Finally, I received the 'Technakohl Liner' in the shade 'Smooth Manoeuvre'. This is a dark black with silver sparkle. I really noticed the quality of this product compared to when I used cheap eyeliners from magazines or highstreet brands. I think the colour is gorgeous and again, the price (£14.00) is better than the previous products I reviewed. A downside I found is that it takes quite a while building up the colour as it's not that pigmented but you are able to build up the colour after layering the product. Overall I am delighted with my MAC products and will hopefully be able to buy some more soon!-A x

Thursday, 15 August 2013

L's Wishlist #1 by lameyI have recently been wanting a few new things, so I thought I would share them with you all! I have firstly been wanting various bow-themed accessories - such as these bow hair clips from New Look and a ring similar to the one shown.I have also recently been loving the Barry M Gelly nail paints and really want to pick up a few new colours, such as the two shown - Key Lime and Lilac, as I think they will be really pretty!I have also been wanting two lip products - Revlon Apocalips, as I have heard so many good things about them, and Maybelline Baby Lips, as they are new to the UK and I am excited to finally see what they are like.As it is getting closer and closer to autumn, I have been on the lookout for some cute boots, and I found these lace up ankle boots from New Look. I love the fact that they have a slight heel as I am quite short so some added height is definitely a bonus!I have also been really into cut outs, particularly shoulder cut outs, so when I saw the white jumper from Topshop, I instantly fell in love! I even tried it on and it fitted so well - I am looking forward to the colder months so that I will have an excuse to buy it!I had also been looking for a simple dress, and I found this black dress from River Island, which I love because it is off the shoulder, which I think makes it a bit different from other dresses.The final think that is on my wishlist is a purse, as I broke my other one. I found this red studded purse from River Island. I love the gold studs and the colour!- L x

Tuesday, 13 August 2013

Hellllloooooo everyone! Whether you're going into secondary school or moving to a completely different one, it can be quite scary, so I'm just going to write down a few tips I have for the Back To School season that could help people who are moving schools and things that I would have wanted year 7 (age 11-12) me to know. For people starting a new school - be that someone going into year 7, starting middle/high school or even just someone who has moved - one of the most important things to remember is that no one is going to be staring at you; I know that it can feel like everyone is looking at you, but it is most likely that this is not the case. A great way to make it less awkward if you do catch someone looking at you is to smile at them, as this will show them that you are a nice person, not a scary person. Another important thing to remember is that, unless you have moved schools, everyone else is in the same position as you, so even if they are acting like they could not care less, they probably are feeling exactly the same as you! If you have moved schools, remember that people will be curious, and many people will be looking for a new friend, so it is very likely that they will start talking to you, as long as you make yourself look approachable!It is also good to make sure you know where you're going - for example, in my first week of year 7, for my first science lesson me and my friends couldn't find the room, which resulted in us being late and the teacher shouting at us, which scared us. Looking back on it now, I can see that the teacher only did it to show her authority to the class, but I still think it was uncalled for, as the school was so big and it was our first/second day. The lesson to be learnt from this is to find out where your rooms are ahead of time, or ask someone in an older year who is in the corridors where it is - they will probably be honored that you find them approachable enough to ask them! Also, find someone to walk to each lesson with - you don't have to be bff's with them, but just find someone who you feel comfortable with and can talk to for a little bit - after all, it's better to walk into a classroom late with someone else than alone.Another area that worries many people is getting new teachers, as of course no one wants to get the 'horrible' ones. Something I have found is that many teachers will start off mean to show the class that they are in charge and then gradually get nicer as the year goes by. Even if you do get the bad teacher, it's not the end of the world - you only have them for one lesson, and you can always try to make them like you! One thing that will happen with teachers as the year goes on is that they will get to know you better, which can work for/against you. For example, if you're shy like me, many of my teachers now pick on me less because they know how much I hate it. However, if you're badly behaved, it could go badly, as they will always have their eye on you - so just try your best to make sure that teachers like you!However, if you're still dreading going back to school, just enjoy the holidays whilst they last! If anything, just look forward to autumn/fall season, and autumn fashion and make-up! I hope you're all having/had a great summer and look forward to more back to school posts coming soon. Talk to you soon!- L x

Monday, 12 August 2013

After hearing many good things about this concealer, I decided to pick it up, as it was very reasonably priced at £4.19. Another thing that caused me to buy it was that it came in a very pale shade, which is quite hard to find in many high street concealers - they always seem to come up too orange/dark on my skin. After having worn this for a few days in hot weather, I can confirm that it has very good staying power - I did not need to reapply at all throughout the day. It is also very high coverage. Overall I would give this concealer 8/10 as although it is fantastic, it does only come it 4 shades and if too much is applied it can look a little cakey.http://www.boots.com/en/Collection-2000-Lasting-Perfection-Concealer_984434/

Friday, 9 August 2013

A's Wishlist #1 by lameyThese are some things I have been wanting these past few months! I really have been wanting the whole Imagine Dragons album as I have bought the songs 'radioactive' and 'tiptoe' already and are in love with them! The midi ring at the bottom of the picture is from Topshop and it's so pretty! I must confess I haven't bought a midi ring yet and desperately want one. The boots are from New Look and after recently looking in there for some shoes I came across these beauts! Despite looking brown in the picture, they are a gorgeous deep red colour - perfect for autumn! I shall have to save up for them...Next is the camera, I was in Urban Outfitters and came across a range of cameras that they sell. It made me want to buy a Polaroid camera for instant pictures! I couldn't find the one I wanted on polyvore so I added a picture of another awesome one (still from Urban Outfitters)!I have been wanting this one ear cuff for a very long time from Marty Magic but couldn't find it on polyvore, so I chose a picture of one similar from the ones I could find. The link for the one I actually want is here if you want to see. Next is the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry. It looks extremely dark in the picture but it actually turns out to be a gorgeous berry colour, again perfect for autumn!The last thing I'm dying for is a beautiful hair bow. I saw a picture of a girl with her hair up in a bun and the bow underneath it (like in the picture!) and it gave me some hair inspiration!-A x

During summer, it becomes more and more frustrating to have to keep on reapplying your foundation as it slides off your face from the heat. If you want tips on how to keep your make-up on I wrote a post on that here, but for this post, I am focusing on how to keep your skin looking fresh and good during the summer months.Personally, I hate wearing a heavy foundation during the summer, as, like I said before, it will melt off your face, and it also feels sticky and like you're wearing a mask. It is important to let your skin breath. A great alternative is tinted moisturizer - it's lighter and it won't be as noticeable if it does partially come off. If you want more coverage, you can add some concealer - I recommend Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection, as it has very high coverage and stays put for ages.I also enjoy cream products in summer, as they appear more natural on the skin. Things such as cream blush, bronzer and highlighter will give you a dewy glow and be less noticeable than a power alternative. However, if you want long staying power, these may not be for you, as they can fade quite quickly. For ultimate staying power, try using a powder product over a cream one, as it will set it and add more colour. Also, make sure to use face powder over all your face make-up after using cream products, not before, as it will partially set them and if used before, the cream make-up will not blend into the skin as nicely.If you want to wear less make-up, is it important that you feel happy with your skin, which means cleansing. What works best for you depends on your skin type, but I personally like ones with exfoliating beads in them, and I have found that the Neutrogena Visibly Clear Blackhead Scrub is not too abrasive and can be used daily. I also like using face masks - I would recommend any of the ones from Lush! The Cupcake one smells amazing, and works well at really cleansing the skin. It is important to use a suntan cream with a high spf on your face as well to protect it - if you are worried about pores being clogged, there are ones made specifically for the face that won't!

Sunday, 4 August 2013

Before we know it, summer will be over and we'll look in our wardrobes in despair! I don't know about you, but every time a new season comes around I feel like I have nothing in my wardrobe. Here are the Autumn 2013 trends so you can buy whats in style soon and hopefully have a wardrobe full of clothes in time for autumn!1. A statement coat/jacket. We're talking fur, leathers and oversized parkas & military jackets. Experiment, you can go crazy with your coat but just keep the rest of your outfit very minimal.2. Invest in pieces in the colour emerald green. This is the key colour for autumn is emerald green which is great, emerald green goes with every skintone and looks amazing!3. Classic prints - think houndstooth, tweed and tartan. Such prints go with many things and are wearable. If it's too much of a statement to wear clothing in these prints, buy a scarf! Scarves look great in these classic prints.4. Military looking garments. Military looking clothing has already shown popularity and continues to make a comeback this autumn. When wearing the style, it can look quite tough, so pair it with lace and softer colours to make it look more girly.5. A hat! Experiment with different shapes and styles and if all else fails, you always have a beanie to fall back on!6. Leather. In my mind, leather is always on trend but leather trims and details are popular this season. All leather outfits are definitely not on trend but a little touch here and there looks amazing.7. 50s Skirts. They've been featured a lot on the catwalk and are great if you don't want to show a lot of leg. 8. Leopard print. I think little touches of leopard print is fine and perhaps one statement piece, but you have to be careful it doesn't look cheap or tacky. The classic brown leopard print is in fashion but also designers have started to feature different coloured leopard print such as blue.-Ax